Book of Zechariah
Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
Promise of a rebuilt temple and judgment on nations.
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Zechariah 1:1-6 |
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In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts;
Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers?
and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
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Credentials given. Generations have not heeded the word from God.
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Zechariah 1:7 |
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Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
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A specific date was given as to when the vision is received.
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Zechariah 1:8 |
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I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
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Three horses each identifiable with their colors. Real spirit horses living and residing with the other heavenly beings.
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Zechariah 1:9 |
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Then said I, O my lord, (#113) what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
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Zechariah in reference to this “angel” calls him “lord” (#113 – see notes above).
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Zechariah 1:10 |
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And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
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He says that standing among the trees was a “man”. This “man” explains what the horses and horsemen’s purpose is. “The Lord” (God) sent them. Horses will be seen again in Chapter 6.
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Zechariah 1:11 |
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And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
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The “other beings” on horseback answer the “man”, who is now called “angel” of the Lord.
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Zechariah 1:12-13 |
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Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
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This “angel/man” of the Lord God poses a question to the “Lord” (God) and is answered by God.
The angel asks God if he will finally have mercy on Jerusalem after 70 years (the length of Babylonian exile) of indignation.
Indignation = defined as: “to foam at the mouth, be enraged”.
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Zechariah 1:14-17 |
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So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
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“line” (#6957) = Hebrew word meaning a cord for measuring or a ruler.
God is jealous for Jerusalem and displeased with the heathen who helped bring this upon Jerusalem.
In Ezekiel, we witness the actual departure of God from the city and now he is declaring His return to it!
God’s House shall be rebuilt in it.
The Nations will be judged for treatment of Jews
The prophet Joel in chapter 3:2-8 talks about the judgment to occur after the Second Coming.
See also the Judgment of Nations in the study on Judgments in the End Times.
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Zechariah 1:18-19 |
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Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
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Zechariah 1:20-21 |
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And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
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Those that caused Judah to be scattered will now have the same done to them.
“come to fray” – to shudder with terror, to scare with fear.